Spring Green is a well-known Wisconsin small town that’s home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and The House on the Rock. But if you’ve visited this area and never taken an afternoon or evening to spend time at the American Players Theater, you’re missing out on one of the state’s crown jewels. More than 100,000 people visit this stunning theater in the woods to see magical, breathtaking performances from one of the best regional theater companies in the country.
According to their website, "APT is a professional theater located just outside Spring Green, Wisconsin. Situated on 110 acres of hilly woods and meadows, APT has two theaters, the newly renovated 1089-seat outdoor amphitheater and the 201-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre. From June through November, APT produces nine plays in rotating repertory."
Located in the middle of the woods on a location that was selected because of it's stellar acoustics, a visit to the APT is about escaping reality for a bit, communing with nature and have an experience unlike any other.
The stage here is absolutely stunning and the trees and sky are your backdrop. There is no bad seat here and there's something so wonderfully inspiring about being immersed in a play in the open air.
This is truly a unique and one-of-a-kind experience and one that can't be had elsewhere. Started in Washington DC in 1977 as just an idea, the first play was put on here in 1980. The theater almost closed a few years later, but a grassroots support campaign reopened the doors and it's been going strong ever since.
Not only is the APT unique for its surroundings, but they are noted in the theater for doing amazing things. The group was nominated for a Tony for Best Regional Theater just give years after opening and have continued to impress, having been named Theater Company of the Year in 2011.
Though the play is the thing at APT, there's also so much more to see and enjoy. Plan to come early and stroll the 110 acre grounds. Pack a picnic and sup before your performance or plan ahead to order a picnic lunch through the APT and local restaurants. On different nights you might find a bbq or taco truck. There are also evenings where you can unwind after the evening performance with a coffee while you wait for traffic to pass.
This well-renowned theater offers not only nine different plays, but numerous workshops, residencies and apprenticeships. You'll also find them in town for casual talks, hosting backstage events, play talks and more. It's a full-service experience for this theater that's as much a part of the fabric of Spring Green as some of its more famous neighbors.
This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that lives in our backyard year round. Though the Hill Theater is the most famous part of the APT, a new, smaller indoor theater allows the company to delight year round.
